A Visitor's Guide to Tybee Island, Georgia

Located just outside of Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island is a small beach community that offers a relaxing getaway to the ocean shore, whether it is just for part of a day or the destination of a full vacation. Here's some tips on getting oriented on Tybee Island.

Tybee Island Light Station

The Tybee Island Historical Society maintains the Tybee Island Light Station with its iconic black and white lighthouse and the accompanying museum and gift shop. The lighthouse itself is accessible for a fee to anyone feeling adventurous enough to climb the winding staircase all the way to the top for a breathtaking view of Tybee Island, the ocean and the surrounding marsh land leading back to Savannah, Georgia.

Tybee Island Visitors Center

Don't expect too much in the way of guidance or suggestions from the Tybee Visitors Center. Their primary advice when I asked what the must see attractions were on the island was to just take it easy and do as little as possible. Great tip if I had asked for Taoist enlightenment, not so helpful otherwise.

Tybee Island Shopping

Although there are plenty of the usual beach shops along the main drag of the beach on Butler Road, the coolest shops are in a little cluster of cottages that are pretty easy to miss just as you are coming on to the island. Located at 1218 Highway 80 East on Tybee Island, Georgia, Latitude 32 is the anchor store for a dozen or so eclectic shops that are sure to have something for everyone, from a popular local pizzeria bar to authentic folk art to stylish beach attire.

Tybee Island Beach

Tybee Island is above all a beach community, and the long wide beach will most likely be the highlight of your visit. A;though the beach attracts a large volume of visitors from nearby Savannah, the beach itself is so wide and deep that it rarely feels crowded at all. During our visit, the surf was almost nonexistent, but the water was still perfect for leisurely swimming and general beach fun. There is an adequate presence of life guards, bu be aware of the dangers of rip tides, especially when the lifeguard flags show any color but green.

As for shelling, the beach that appeared disappointingly picked over revealed quite a bounty with a little persistence. If the beach seems limited to small pockets of shell rubble when you visit, try getting down and moving around the piles with your hands. With a little luck, you will find an incredible number of American Augers, commonly misidentified as periwinkles. These may be a pretty common shell t the aficionados, but I was amazed at how many you found in a short period of time.